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The Czech capital of Praha is the world’s most beautiful city. This was my second trip to Praha (or Prague in English), a weekend, and what comes here is my highly recommended walking tour.
A one day walking tour
Wenceslas Square
This walking tour starts in the centre of the Nové M?sto (New Town) district of Prague, at Václavské námestí (Wenceslas Square) and with the National Museum at the high end of the long square.
Václavské nám?stí seen from the National Museum
Powder Tower
Walk down the square right until the end and turn right on the Na Prikope until you reach the Powder Tower or Powder Gate (Prašná brána).
Powder Tower in Prague
Jewish quarter
Find your way along the streets to the old Jewish quarter with several synagogues, an old cemetery and the statue of Franz Kafka.
Franz Kafka statue
Jewish cemetery in Praha (1990)
Old Town Square
From there it is easy to walk up to Prague’s central and most famous square, the Starom?stské nám?stí (Old Town Square) right in the middle of Staré M?sto (the Old Town). Every single building around the square is a wonder in its own right, but the biggest crowds congregate in front of the old Astronomical Clock on the wall of the Town Hall. Equally important, and even more to the Czechs themselves is the statue of Jan Hus on the square.
View across the Starom?stské nám?stí (Old Town Square) from Town Hall tower in Prague
Astronomical Clock, Prague
Charles Bridge
From the square several streets lead down to the Karluv Most (Charles Bridge) possibly the most famous sight in Prague. The bridge crosses the River Vltava.
Statue on Karluv Most (Charles Bridge)
Lesser Quarter
Across the river Vltava is the Malá Strana (Lesser Quarter). Here you will find a number of small streets aligned with buildings of extra-ordinary beauty. Continue till you find the John Lennon Wall, not an apparent sight in a city full of history. It’s basically a wall but has since the 1980s been filled with John Lennon-inspired graffiti as a symbol of youth ideals of love and peace.
Street view from Malá Strana, Prague
Detail from John Lennon Wall, Malá Strana, Prague
Hradcany castle in Prague, seen from the River Vldava
Prague Castle
The Malá Strana is dominated by the majestic Hradcany (Praha Castle). If you walk up to the Malostranské nám?stí you can catch a tram from there up to the castle and walk back down again. Just follow my map, have a look at my pictures and be inspired!
Entrance to Saint Vitus’ Cathedral
View down the Nerudova street, Prague
What else?
Take a boat trip and have a look at Prague from a different angle.
Walk up to the Pet?ín hill, or take the funicular, and have a wonderful view of Prague and its castle from a different angle.
Hradcany Castle seen from Pet?ín hill (1990)
Eat and drink
Find yourself a restaurant on ground level, or in a cellar and indulge yourself in unhealthy food and drink. The Czechs love their beer, and some would say invented the pilsener. The food is heavy with meat.
Czech feast
Map
Here is a map of Praha (Prague) with the place names mentioned in the article.
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My first trip to Praha (Prague) was back in 1990 as part a longer trip into (mostly) Eastern Europe.
Not tired of all these pictures? Well, browse them and even more images here:
